Bra



L. N. REG ER Jan. 24, 1950 BRA File'd Dec. 1, 1945 INVENTOR ,fee Zlmyecfg ez BY ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 24, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT; OFFICEApplication December 1, 1945, Serial No. 632,178

4 Claims.

This invention relates to garments and more particularly to a brassiere,known in the trade as a bra.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a bra of simple,inexpensive construction and of such flexibility of design that it maybe worn in various ways to obtain a variety of effects.

Another object of the invention is to provide a bra which can beconstructed as a generally flat unfitted article of apparel and whichmay be donned and draped on the person of a wearer in various ways.

A corollary object of the invention, therefore, is to provide a brawhich can be made in two or three key sizes and yet is adapted to becomfortably and suitably worn by persons varying in size over a widerange.

This invention possesses many other advantages, and has other objectswhich may be made more easily apparent from a consideration of oneembodiment of the invention. For this purpose there is shown a form inthe drawings accompanying and forming part of the present specification.This form will now be described in detail, illustrating the generalprinciples of the invention; but it is to be understood that thisdetailed description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, since thescope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

In the drawing:

Figure 1' is a perspective view of a bra constructed in accordance withthis invention and shown in position on the body of a wearer;

Figure 2 is a similar view showing the bra partly donned;

Figure 3 is a back view showing the bra in the process of being donned;

Figure 4 is a broken view of the bra in flat condition to emphasize itsstructural features; and,

Figure 5 is a fragmentary view similar to Figure 4, showing amodification of the invention.

Referring first to figures 4 and 5, the bra which is illustratedcomprises, generally, a pair of wings 5 extending oppositely from eachother and connected by a halter 6.

The wings 5 as shown in Figure 4, each comprise an elongated rectangularpanel having longitudinal edges. 1, an end edge 8, and a preferablypuckered or pleated end 9. The wing 5 which is shown in Figure 5, issomewhat modified in that its longitudinal edges 1c are curved towardeach other at an intermediate portion 0! the wing to provide a neck IIIwhich is narrower in width than the general width of the wing.

The halter 6, in both forms of the bra which is shown, comprises a strapH which has portions l2 connected to and coextensive with the pleatedends 9 of the wings, and which has a loop portion l3 connecting theupper ends of the portions H. A back strap 14 connects the lower ends ofthe strap portions l2 and extends between the wings 5 of the bra.

The portion 15 of each wing 5 comprises a breast covering portion, theportion iii of Figure 4, and the neck H] of Figure 5 comprise a knottingportion of each wing, and the remaining end portion of each wingcomprises a bow forming portion. Thestrap portions [2 are designed toextend vertically along opposite sides of the body of the wearer, theloop l3 to engage around the back of the neck of the wearer, and theback strap M, to encircle the back of the wearer.

As seen in Figure 3, the bra is easily applied or donned by extendingfirst one arm and then the other through the space H of the bra with theloop I; and the back strap l4 across the back of the wearer. The garmentis then adjusted to bring the loop l3 around the neck and the back strapl4 across the middle of the back of the wearer. In this condition, thewings 5 giolil hang pendant on either front side of the By bringing thewing portions 15 across to cover the breast and forming a knot l8 byinterlooping the panels, as shown in Figure 2, the bra can becomfortably fitted to the body and thereby adjusted in accordance withbody dimensions. Only a minor part of each wing is used for covering thebreasts, leaving the major portions of said wings extending from theknot [8, as shown. Now, by inter-connecting these extending portions ofthe wings to form a bow l9 superposed over the breast covering portionsI5, as shown in Figure 1, the draping of the bra on the figure iscompleted.

Normally, the looped portions 20 of the bow is are generally ofsuflicient stiffness to maintain their position across the body and willnot fall. However, the ends 2| of the bow which comprise the ends of thewings, may require additional support to prevent their dropping.Accordingly, the upper corners of said ends 2| may be tucked in underthe respective breast covering portions, as shown at 22, so that thegarment is neatly fitted and arranged.

From the foregoing it will be evident that a simple bra structure hasbeen provided; that the bra is easily, simply and quickly donned orremoved; that a pleasing effect is obtained by draping the bra on thefigure as described; and that the objects of the invention are realizedby the structure described.

Iclaim:

1. A bra comprising a pair of elongated, substantially rectangular wingshaving juxtaposed ends, saidi wings extending oppositely from eachother, a first strap having one end secured transversely of said wingsto one end of one of said wings, extending in a generally U-shaped loopto the juxtaposed end of the other wing,. 15'

the other end of said strap being secured trans-' versely of said wingsto said juxtaposed end-of said other wing, and a second strap extending.between said wings, and secured to the juxtaposed ends of said wingssubstantially at right. angles to said first strap}.

2. A bra comprising a pair ofelongated oppositely extending fabricvpanels a neck engaging halter having side. portionsponneoted: by a loop,

.each ofsaid panels having a corresponding end secured to one. of saidportions, and a back en- 4 the inner end portions, a neck engaginghalter having side portions connected by a loop, each of said panelshaving a corresponding end secured to one of said portions, and a backengaging strap joining the lower parts of said panel ends and normallyextending therebetween in a direction longitudinally of the panels, saidstrap being adapted to extend across the wearers back and beneath thearm pits for positioning the said panel ends adjacent the opposite sidesof thel chest, said panels-being adapted to extend toward, each other sothat the inner end portions of said .panels respectively cover thewearers breasts, the outer ends portions of said panels being adaptedtoextend across the wearers chest and to be joined intermediate theirends in a bow comprising the full width of the panels.

gaging strap joining the lower parts of said panel ends and normallyextending. therebetween in a direction longitudinally of. the panels,said strap being adapted to extend across the wearers back and beneaththe arm pitsfor. positioning thesaid the outer: end portions ofisaidpanels being of.

such length as to be. adapted to be joined to formaa'bow overlying andsubstantially covering said-breast covering.- portions, said panels,when joined, forming the sole connection: between said halter sideportions across the front of the wearers body.

3.-. A bra comprising-a pair. ofelongated oppositely extending fabricpanels, the outer end portions of said panels being at least as wide aspanels extending oppositely from each other, the inner end portions ofsaid panels respectively constituting breast coveringv portions, and a,halt'erconnecting. the inner ends of said panels, comprising a backengaging strap extending between the panels and a neck engaging. loopvextending upwardly from the upper edges of the panels, said inner endportions and the outer end portions of said panels being of substantialWidth and at least as wide as the intermediate portions, whereby saidouter end portions may be formed into a bow ofsuchsizeas tosubstantially cover .said breast covering. portionswhen the bra is worn.7

LEE NAEGERREGER.

REFERENCES CITED" The following. references are of: record in the fileofthispatent':

UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,437,541 Koret'nmfl. Mar. 9, 1948

